Bonfires

Bonfires in the garden have the risk to cause harm as burning waste in this way can be unpredictable so fires may quickly get out of control.

Bonfires also have the potential to impact your health, cause a nuisance to neighbours, damage the wider environment through pollution, and cause devastating fires. To keep everyone safe we recommend avoiding burning waste in the garden.

It can be against the law to burn rubbish and you can be fined for it or matters related to it. Further information can be found at gov.uk

If you decide to have a bonfire in your garden despite the risks outlined above always notify us in advance by calling 0845 2999 247. The call will go through to our Fire Control team, who manage 999 calls, they will record the details, if they then receive a call from a member of public reporting smoke in the area they will check if it could be your bonfire so may not send a fire engine. However, if they are informed the bonfire is not safe or if they receive multiple calls, for fire safety reasons they may decide to mobilise a fire engine.

Follow the safety advice as set out below:

• Discuss your plans with your neighbours beforehand
• Locate the fire away from sheds, outbuilding, wheelie bins, fences, vegetation, trees and overhead cables
• Do not use oil, methylated spirits, paraffin or petrol to light the fire, as accelerants can cause uncontrolled explosions
• Ensure the fire is attended at all times and that you have a way to extinguish the fire by having a hose pipe or buckets of water nearby
• Do not burn items which produce toxic fumes including plastics, foam, paint, rubber, chipboard, plywood, flammable liquids (such as oil), batteries and containers of any variety that still contain or previously contained chemicals or flammable substances. Burning these materials is illegal and is harmful to the environment
• Always keep children and animals away from the fire at all times

Finally, to confirm, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service asks that you do not have bonfires please take your rubbish to the local tip, it’s better for the environment and safer for all.